Gustave muller



(no Model.)

' G. MULLER.

SHOE PULL.

No. 571,276. Patented Nov. 10, 1896.

W/ TNE SSE S: IN VE N T0]? FFICE.

GUSTAVE MULLER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE PATENT SIIOE PULL COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

.SHOE-PULL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,276, dated November 10, 1896. Application filed February 23, 1895. Serial No. 589,367. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsrAvE MiiLLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Pulls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved gaitershoe attachment, and it is particularly applicable to that class having elastic tops or elastic side pieces set therein.

My invention consists, preferably, of an elastic rubber ball, so that by its spherical shape it will occupy but little room, is always accessible, so as to be readily grasped between the thumb and finger and without loss of time, and by reason of its elastic feature will not cut the straps as metal or other hard substances will do.

To enable others to fully understand my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a gaiter-shoe with my improved spherical pull attached to the ordinary pull-straps. Fig. 2 is a detail view of pull device, normal size, with the pull-strap inserted therein. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the rubber ball detached from the gaiter-strap, looking in the direction of arrow at, Fig. 2. Fig. tis a detail vertical central sectional view of the rubber ball through line b of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail central section of the pull device, similar to Fig. 4, showing the pull-strap inserted in the slots thereof. Fig. 6 is an upper plan view of the ball and strap, looking in the direction of arrow 0, Fig. 5.

Its construction and operation are as fol lows:

1 is a solid rubber ball or sphere, with the exception of the two parallel slots 2 2, extending therethrough, leaving the bridge 3 to withstand the pulling strain. The free ends of the gaiter-strap a are passed down the slots 2 of the rubber sphere, so as to bring the middle portion thereof to rest on the bridge 3. The free ends of the straps are then attached in the usual manner to the shoe-top, as shown at Fig. 1. I prefer to attach such spheres close to the top of the shoe, so as to keep them in an upright position and readily accessible at all times.

The advantage of my improvement over other devices for this purpose, as well as the ordinary loop, is apparent on comparison. lVith the loop much annoyance and .loss of time is occasioned in endeavoring to insert the fingers therein, as the sides are usually pressed firmly together. If metal is employed to supplement the usual straps, and thus provide means for grasping more firmly the top of the shoe, it would in a short time out the straps; besides, it would be too heavy and costly an article whatever its shape.

The device described and shown as my improvement is not only cheap and simple of' construction, but being elastic will give a trifle across the corners of the bridge 3, so as not to chafe or wear the strap at that point, and being spherical in shape will at all times, no matter in What position the shoe is in, present the same resisting surface, thereby avoiding the necessity of feeling about to get the fingers in some exact position before the device can be grasped.

In operating my device all that is required is simply to take holdof the straps or top of the shoe below the spheres.

WVhile I show and prefer the spherical form I hold myself at liberty to adopt forms deviating therefrom, yet substantially spherical.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-+ 1. An improved pull device for gaiters consisting of an elastic sphere, or substantially of spherical form; elongated passages 2 extending through said body and parallel with each other; bridge 3 between said passages; strap 4 whose free ends extend through such passages and are attached to the top of a shoe, the body of the said strap engaging the said bridge to afford a resistance against the pulling strain, as set forth.

2. An improved pull device for shoes, consisting of an elastic substantially spherical body provided with elongated passages extending therethrough and parallel to each other, thereby forming a bridge between the two slots, to afford a resistance against the strain of the pull-strap of a shoe, the said pull-strap passing through the slots of the spherical body and over the bridge and resting thereon, the free ends thereof being attached to the top of a shoe; the diameter of the said spherical body being approximately the length of the pull-strap extending above the top of the shoe, and thereby adapted to rest upon the edge of the shoe-uppeigwhereby IO the shoe pull-strap is at all times elevated,

and renderd easily accessible to be grasped by the fingers, substantially as described.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this 12th day of February, A. D. 1895.

GUSTAVE MULLER. \Vitnesses:

HENRY SoHADT, LEWIs F. PELTON. 

